Impact of soil and water conservation measures on soil quality indicators: The case of dada Mico-watershed, Central Ethiopia

Land degradation remains a major challenge in Ethiopia, causing severe soil fertility loss, reduced agricultural productivity, and food insecurity. To combat this, the government has implemented soil and water conservation (SWC) measures through community mass mobilization. The introduction of SWC practices is strongly associated with improvements in soil physicochemical qualities, resulting in an increase in soil fertility and enhancing the resilience of degraded landscape ecosystems. However, the impact of these interventions on soil quality indicators has not been fully examined in the Dada micro-watershed. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of SWC practices on selected soil physicochemical properties using a factorial design. A total of 18 composite soil samples (0–30 cm depth) were collected from conserved and non-conserved farmlands across three landscape positions. Laboratory analyses were carried out using standard procedures at Ambo University. The findings revealed that SWC-treated plots had significantly higher soil moisture content (6.89%) and lower bulk density (1.47 g/cm 3 ) than untreated plots (4.31% and 1.53 g/cm 3 , respectively), particularly on lower slopes. Soil chemical properties also improved under SWC, with higher pH (5.5 vs 4.33), total nitrogen (0.55% vs 0.12%), and organic carbon (3.98% vs 1.40%). Moreover, cation exchange capacity (24.51 vs 17.25) and exchangeable bases were greater in conserved plots, decreasing from lower to upper slopes. Significant differences ( p < 0.05) were recorded for soil texture, pH, electrical conductivity, organic matter, total nitrogen, moisture content, and CEC, while bulk density, exchangeable Mg, and available P were not significantly affected. Overall, SWC practices effectively enhanced soil fertility, moisture retention, and structural stability, mitigating erosion. Future studies should focus on long-term yield, economic impacts, and cost-effectiveness to promote broader adoption.